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April Wine

From Alfawiki
April Wine
Company typeRock band
IndustryMusic
Founded1969 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
FounderDavid Henman, Ritchie Henman, Jim Henman
Headquarters
Halifax
,
Canada
Area served
Canada, United States, international (modest)
ProductsMusic albums, singles

April Wine is a rock ensemble originating from Canada, established in 1969 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The group was fronted by singer, guitarist, and songwriter Myles Goodwyn until his passing in 2023. Their breakthrough came with the release of their sophomore album, On Record (1972), which entered the Canadian Top 40 and featured two successful singles: a rendition of Elton John's "Bad Side of the Moon" (which reached the Top 20 in Canada) and a cover version of Hot Chocolate's "You Could Have Been a Lady" (peaking at number 2 nationally).

Although their global impact was modest, April Wine consistently enjoyed considerable acclaim within Canada, scoring 21 singles in the Top 40. Among their most distinguished international tracks from the 1970s through the early 1980s are "You Could Have Been a Lady" (1972), "Tonite Is a Wonderful Time to Fall in Love" (1975), "Roller" (1979), "I Like to Rock" (1980), "Sign of the Gypsy Queen" (1981), and "Just Between You and Me" (1981). To date, their discography includes sixteen studio albums.

Formation and Early Development

The band April Wine was officially established in late 1969 in Waverley, Nova Scotia, with origins linked to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. There, brothers David and Ritchie Henman began performing together before relocating to Nova Scotia.

The original lineup consisted of David Henman on guitar, Ritchie Henman on drums, and their cousin Jim Henman handling bass duties. This trio initially played under the name Prism—not to be confused with the Vancouver-based band sharing that name. After a short break during university studies, they reassembled with Myles Goodwyn taking over lead vocals and guitar; Goodwyn had previously collaborated with Jim Henman in the Termites. The name "April Wine" was coined by David Henman for this new formation. Facing limited prospects in Halifax, they dispatched a demo tape to Aquarius Records located in Montreal. Though Aquarius initially declined, the band misunderstood this response as an invitation. On April 1, 1970, April Wine journeyed to Montreal equipped with instruments and $100, successfully convincing Aquarius executives Terry Flood and Donald K. Tarlton to sign them. They were accommodated in a chalet and secured bookings at Café André, spending five months touring eastern Canada alongside Mashmakhan.

Their debut album, titled April Wine, was released in September 1971. It included the single "Fast Train", which attained No. 38 on the RPM Singles Chart, becoming a Canadian top 40 hit. Despite only moderate album sales, the success of this single ensured support for a second album from their record label. In autumn 1971, Jim Henman left the group and was succeeded by Jim Clench. Throughout that year, April Wine performed extensively on college circuits and served as opening act for The Guess Who during their July 30 concert at Montreal's Place des Nations. By 1972, they began playing larger venues as support for notable artists such as Ike & Tina Turner, Jethro Tull, Badfinger, and Stevie Wonder.

Rise to Prominence

Produced by Ralph Murphy, April Wine's second album On Record was recorded in 1972. Its leading single—a cover of Hot Chocolate's "You Could Have Been a Lady"—reached number two on Canada's RPM charts and climbed to No. 32 on the US Billboard Hot 100, remaining on that chart for eleven weeks. Another single from the album, a cover of Elton John and Bernie Taupin's "Bad Side of the Moon," garnered substantial airplay across Canada and achieved minor success in the United States. Both songs have since become fixtures on Canadian classic rock stations. The album On Record earned Gold certification domestically, encouraging both the band and producer Murphy to continue recording.

In 1973, during sessions for their third album, founding members David and Ritchie Henman departed. To fill these vacancies, Goodwyn and Clench brought in drummer Jerry Mercer, formerly of Mashmakhan, along with guitarist Gary Moffet. This lineup completed Electric Jewels, featuring tracks such as "Weeping Widow," "Just Like That," and "Lady Run, Lady Hide," which became regular highlights during live shows. The accompanying Electric Adventure Tour spanned most major Canadian arenas seating over 2,500 attendees each, incorporating elaborate lighting effects and pyrotechnics. The tour's success attracted Gene Cornish and Dino Danelli from The Rascals, who produced a live album recorded during an intensive one-night session at Massey Hall. Although Goodwyn expressed dissatisfaction with the audio quality, April Wine Live nonetheless achieved Gold status.

Gold and platinum era

April Wine's fifth studio effort, Stand Back (1975), earned double platinum certification in Canada, propelled by standout tracks such as "Tonight Is A Wonderful Time To Fall In Love" and "I Wouldn't Want To Lose Your Love". During this period, the band shared the stage with Heart and Thundermug, and in 1976 became pioneers by selling out both Regina Stadium and Edmonton's Kinsmen Field House twice in a row. Following this tour, bassist Jim Clench left to join Bachman–Turner Overdrive, with Steve Lang stepping in as his replacement.

The 1976 album The Whole World's Goin' Crazy marked April Wine's first to achieve platinum status based solely on pre-release sales, featuring popular songs like the title track and "Like A Lover, Like A Song". Their next release, Forever for Now, also attained platinum certification and included their most successful single up to that point, "You Won't Dance With Me".

In March 1977, April Wine performed at a notable charity event at Toronto's El Mocambo Club alongside a disguised The Rolling Stones, drawing significant crowds. This concert was later issued as Live at the El Mocambo. Subsequently, the band embarked on a U.S. tour opening for The Rolling Stones, Styx, and Rush.

That same year saw the addition of guitarist and co-vocalist Brian Greenway, formerly of The Dudes, who contributed to a heavier rock sound and enabled Myles Goodwyn to concentrate on keyboard parts during ballads. April Wine secured a deal with Capitol Records while maintaining ties with Aquarius.

In 1978, they sustained their Canadian success while breaking into international markets with First Glance, their debut release under Capitol. Singles like "Let Yourself Go" and "Get Ready For Love" found favor domestically; however, it was "Roller" that achieved broad recognition across North America, remaining on the Billboard Hot 100 for eleven weeks. The album garnered their first gold certification outside Canada. Their extensive touring schedule included supporting acts such as Rush, Triumph, Starcastle, Teaze, and featured a major show with The Rolling Stones, Journey, and Atlanta Rhythm Section that further expanded their U.S. audience.

Continuing this upward trajectory, April Wine released Harder ... Faster in 1979. Tracks such as "Say Hello" and "I Like to Rock" propelled the album to multi-platinum sales and a 40-week tenure on the Billboard top albums chart. That year’s tours included performances alongside Styx, Rush, Toto, Boston, Squeeze, and Blue Öyster Cult. Capitalizing on their growing popularity, Aquarius issued a Greatest Hits collection. On the international front, the BBC released In Concert in 1979, followed by Aquarius’ 1981 compilation titled The Best of April Wine Rock Ballads.

1980s

On August 16, 1980, April Wine took part in the inaugural Monsters of Rock festival held at Castle Donington, England.

January 1981 saw the release of The Nature of the Beast, which included hit singles "Just Between You and Me" and a cover of Lorence Hud's "Sign of the Gypsy Queen." This album achieved multi-platinum status in Canada and became their first to earn platinum certification internationally. To promote it, they toured extensively alongside bands such as Diamond Head, Harlequin, Krokus, and Loverboy, while also performing in Germany with Neil Young, Jethro Tull, the Michael Schenker Group (MSG), and King Crimson. Following this period of activity, the band entered an eighteen-month hiatus.

In July 1982, their tenth studio album Power Play was released featuring singles like "Enough is Enough," "If You See Kay," and "Anything You Want, You Got It." The video for "Enough is Enough" received significant airplay on MTV. While sales were respectable—achieving gold and platinum certifications by October—the album did not garner the same critical praise or maintain chart presence as previous works. The accompanying 1982 tour was their lengthiest yet, spanning three months with support from Saga, Eddie Money, and Uriah Heep. Performances in New York during this tour resulted in separate live releases titled Live From Central Park.

During sessions for Animal Grace, internal disagreements intensified leading Myles Goodwyn to relocate to the Bahamas. Although both the album and its single "This Could be the Right One" initially charted well, their momentum waned rapidly. In 1984, April Wine embarked on a successful month-long Canadian "Farewell Tour," which culminated in the live recording One for the Road.

With one final album owed to Capitol Records, Goodwyn and Greenway joined Montreal session musicians Daniel Barbe (keyboards), Jean Pellerin (bass), and drummer Marty Simon in Nassau to record what was intended as their concluding project. Released in September 1985 under the April Wine name, Walking Through Fire marked the end of this chapter in their career.

Rebirth

Goodwyn made his return to Canada in 1988. Although there was some early enthusiasm, April Wine did not officially reform until 1992, bringing together Goodwyn, Greenway, drummer Jerry Mercer, bassist Jim Clench—who had been absent since 1975—and a third guitarist, Steve Segal. The group embarked on tours across Canada and the United States, releasing the album Attitude in 1993 through Flood Ross Entertainment, which rapidly earned gold status in Canada. Segal remained with the band through the release of their 1994 album Frigate. Over the subsequent five years, April Wine maintained an annual touring schedule, sharing stages with notable acts such as Def Leppard, Foreigner, and Nazareth.

In 2001, the band unveiled Back to the Mansion, featuring the track "Roller," which was included in the soundtrack of the movie Joe Dirt. This was followed by a live compilation, Greatest Hits Live 2003, released two years later. In 2004, Silverline put out their first DVD-Audio titled From the Front Row ... Live!. Between 2001 and 2004, Carl Dixon contributed on guitars, keyboards, and backing vocals.

Marking their 37th year in 2006, Aquarius Records issued the compilation April Wine Rocks! alongside a new studio album, Roughly Speaking. That same year saw Jim Clench departing once more, with bassist Breen LeBoeuf stepping in.[1][2] The following year brought Mercer's retirement and his replacement by drummer Blair Mackay.

April Wine's legacy was honored with an induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame during the Juno Awards of 2010.[3] On November 3, 2010, former bassist Jim Clench passed away from lung cancer at age 61.<ref>LeBoeuf exited in July 2011 and was succeeded by Richard Lanthier, known for his work with the Yes tribute band Close to the Edge. Mackay left in March 2012; Roy "Nip" Nichol assumed drumming duties. Steve Lang died in February 2017 at age 67 after battling Parkinson's disease.

In 2020, BGO Records re-released a remastered edition of The Nature Of The Beast / Power Play.<ref>April Wine sustained their tradition of annual Canadian tours and festival performances across Europe and the United States with Goodwyn, Greenway, Lanthier, and Nichol.<ref> They held a concert in Ottawa in September 2021.<ref>

Their song "Sign of the Gypsy Queen" gained notable exposure by featuring prominently in the penultimate episode of Breaking Bad.

In December 2022, Goodwyn announced his retirement from live touring due to health complications related to diabetes but continued contributing to songwriting and studio recordings. His final performance with April Wine took place in March 2023; original member Jim Henman joined him on stage for this farewell appearance. Goodwyn passed away on December 3, 2023, at age 75.<ref>

Band members

Current

  • Brian Greenway – guitar, harmonica, backing vocals (1977–1985, 1992–present)
  • Richard Lanthier – bass guitar, backing vocals (2011–present)
  • Roy Nichol – drums, percussion, backing vocals (2012–present)
  • Marc Parent – lead vocals, guitar (2022–present)

Awards

April Wine has been nominated for eleven Juno awards but has yet to secure a win. Their induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame occurred at the Juno Awards of 2010.

Myles Goodwyn received the Dr. Helen Creighton Lifetime Achievement Award from the East Coast Music Awards in 2003.

The band was inducted into the East Coast Music Hall of Fame in 2008.

Additionally, April Wine entered the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame and was honored with its Lifetime Achievement Award on March 13, 2009.

Discography

Studio Albums

  • April Wine (1971)
  • On Record (1972)
  • Electric Jewels (1973)
  • Stand Back (1975)
  • The Whole World's Goin' Crazy (1976)
  • Forever for Now (1977)
  • First Glance (1978)
  • Harder ... Faster (1979)
  • The Nature of the Beast (1981)
  • Power Play (1982)
  • Animal Grace (1984)
  • Walking Through Fire (1986)
  • Attitude (1993)
  • Frigate (1994)
  • Back to the Mansion (2001)
  • Roughly Speaking (2006)

See also

External links

  1. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named TheStar
  2. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named walkerton
  3. ↑ Goodwyn and Greenway accepted this accolade.
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